Little Women by Louisa May Alcott · OverDrive: eBooks, audiobooks and videos for libraries Classic Literature Fiction The beautiful Meg, artistic tomboy Jo, doomed Beth, and selfish Amy: since the publication of Little Women in 1869, these four sisters have become America's most beloved literary siblings. Louisa May Alcott's rich and realistic portrait has inspired three movies and stirred the emotions of countless young girls. Set in New England during the Civil War, the novel follows the adventures of the March sisters as they struggle to pursue their dreams. The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations. Scott created these drawings in scratchboard ­ an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk.

A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally. View All Photos (9) Movie Info This newest version of Louisa May Alcott's tender novel is considered to be among the best as it chronicles the lives of four sisters growing up in the mid nineteenth century. The story is set in New England during and immediately after the Civil War. The four March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are living alone with their mother Marmee. Their father has left to fight in the Union Army and their standard of living and social status has been greatly reduced. The story primarily focuses upon Jo, a budding writer of adventure and crime stories. As the seasons turn and years pass the girls grow up. Meg marries her former tutor Brooke, Beth is damaged by scarlet fever, and Jo spurns Laurie after he proposes. Marmee advises Jo to celebrate her independence and Jo moves to New York where she becomes a trashy novelist under the pen name "Joseph." In New York she meets Friedrich Bhaer a German philosophy professor.

She feels an instant connection to him. Meanwhile Amy is in Europe studying art when she encounters Laurie who has become a playboy. After a family tragedy and at the behest of her mentor the professor, Jo changes her writing style and becomes Louisa May Alcott. Rating: Little Women : Louisa May Alcott : 9780141192413 Add to basket Add to wishlist Description Part of `Penguin's` beautiful hardback `Clothbound Classics` series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth - four `little women` enduring hardships and enjoying adventures in Civil War New England. The charming story of the March sisters, `Little Women` has been adored by generations. Readers have rooted for Laurie in his pursuit of Jo's hand, cried over little Beth's death, and dreamed of traveling through Europe with old Aunt March and Amy. Future writers have found inspiration in Jo's devotion to her writing.

In this simple, enthralling tale, both parts of which are included here, Louisa May Alcott has created four of American literature's most beloved women. show more Product details "The American female myth." Madelon Bedell" show more About Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott wrote her first novel, The Inheritance, at age seventeen, but it went unpublished for nearly 150 years until 1997, after two researchers (Joel Myerson and Daniel Shealy) stumbled across the handwritten manuscript in the Houghton Library at Harvard University. Of course, Ms. Alcott is best known for a different novel, Little Women, which she wrote in two parts. The first volume, alternately titled Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, was published in 1868, and the second volume, Good Wives, was published in 1869. Like Jo in Little Women, Louisa also wrote many `blood and thunder` tales, which were published in popular periodicals of the day. She did not openly claim authorship for many of these Gothic thriller stories, however: for some, she used the pseudonym, `A. M.

Barnard`; for others, she chose to remain completely anonymous. show more Review Text Little Women, Louisa May Alcott: Chapter Summary CHAPTER 1: PLAYING PILGRIMS In this, the opening chapter, the reader meets the four main characters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The girls are trying to decide what to get each other for Christmas. This year, however, their father is away at war and funds are limited. The girls finally decide that they will each by a gift for Marmee instead of a gift for themselves. When Marmee returns home, the girls learn that she has received a letter from their father. The girls and their mother gather in front of the fire and read the letter. CHAPTER 2: A MERRY CHRISTMAS The girls wake early on Christmas morning to discover that their mother has placed a different colored book under each of their pillows. They prepare breakfast and then sacrifice it to another family in need down the street. The girls then give Marmee her gifts and perform a play, Operatic Tradegy. Dinner comes as a surprise to the girls when they learn that old Mr. Laurence has provided them with ice cream, bonbons, and flowers.

CHAPTER 3: THE LAURENCE BOY Jo and Meg attend a New Year's Eve party at Mrs. Gardiner's house. There is much commotion getting the two girls ready as they try to make the best of their old dresses and gloves. Jo tries to curl Meg's hair but only burns the ends off in a great tragedy. At the party, Jo meets Laurence, the grandson of old Mr. Laurence. He tells Jo that he would like to be called Laurie instead of his given name, Theodore, because classmates had teased him in the past. The girls return from the party and share their experiences with their sisters. CHAPTER 4: BURDENS In this chapter, the reader learns a great deal about each of the personalities of the little women. The narrator tells the reader that Mr. March lost his property while trying to help an unfortunate friend and because of this, Meg and Jo had found work outside the home to help support the family. Meg spends her days teaching small children as a governess, but could not help but yearn for a life in which she could go to parties, concerts, and spend her time in gossip.

Jo spends time reading and caring for her Aunt March and wished that she could read all the books in her Aunt's library. Beth, the shy one, wishes that she could spent more time playing the piano instead of doing housework. Finally, Amy simply wishes that her nose was less flat. The narrator also shares that Meg was Amy's close friend and mother, while Beth and Jo were equally as close. CHAPTER 5: BEING NEIGHBORLY Jo can barely stand still and wishes to go next door and visit Laurie. She feels terrible that she has such wonderful sisters to keep her company and that Laurie has no one. She ventures next door in order to read to the sick Laurie but ends up talking with him for hours. She tells him all about her sisters and the adventurous things they do, she wishes that he could join in their fun. CHAPTER 6: BETH FINDS THE PLACE BEAUTIFUL The girls spend much time over at the Laurence's home. Beth, however, fearing old man Laurence refuses to visit. Mr. Laurence speaks privately with Mrs. March about the possibility of Beth visiting the house and playing the piano, alone and undisturbed.

Eventually Beth is able to visit the house and plays wonderful music for all to hear. In gratitude for Mr. Laurence's generosity she makes him a pair of slippers. Touched by her sincerity, Mr. Laurence gives Beth a small piano which once belonged to his deceased granddaughter. From this point on Beth and Mr. Lawrence shared a special bond. CHAPTER 7: AMY'S VALLEY OF HUMILIATION Amy explains to her sisters that she is deeply in debt with her classmates. It seems that a popular pastime of Amy and her classmates is the trading of pickled limes and Amy has not been able to provide her fair share. Meg gives Amy some money to purchase limes and Amy proudly announces to her classmates that she has 24 limes. After refusing to share her limes with the young Jenny Snow, Amy's secret stash of limes is discovered by Mr. Davis and she is punished before the class. When Mrs. March learns that her youngest daughter was smacked with a ruler and humiliated in front of the class she sends Jo with a note to Mr. Davis and decides that Amy will be taught at home. Laurie gives Beth a great compliment on her piano abilities.

CHAPTER 8: JO MEETS APOLLYON Laurie invites Jo and Meg to watch The Seven Castles of the Diamond Lake and Amy wishes to come along. Jo is angered and annoyed at Amy and tells her that she cannot come. As Jo leaves Amy swears revenge on her. Upon arriving home Jo learns that Amy has burned a book that she has been working on for many years. Jo is so hurt and crushed that she cannot ever forgive Amy. The next day Jo and Laurie go skating and Amy follows behind them in the hopes of telling her sister how sorry she is. As Jo and Laurie are racing on the ice, Amy slips through and Laurie rescues her. Jo feels terrible for not forgiving her sister sooner and the two sisters make up. Jo and her mother discuss their tempers and Jo vows to try to control hers more. CHAPTER 9: MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR Meg leaves the family for a fortnight and stays with the Moffats. While staying with these girls Meg is introduced into the life of a young lady. She attends dinners, goes to the theater and trys on many new airs. Meg, however, is ashamed that her family is poor and that she cannot afford a new dress like the other girls.

The Moffats dress Meg up for a ball and Meg places herself on display. Laurie attends the party and is not pleased with Meg's appearance or behavior. When Meg returns home she confesses to her mother that she was made to look foolish and that many gossipy things were said about her and her family. Mrs. March tells Meg to never mind the gossip and to be true to herself by not pretending to be something that she is not. CHAPTER 10: THE P.C. AND P.O. The reader learns of the secret society which the girls have contrived. The Pickwick Club was a literary club formed by the four girls in their play. It featured a newsletter containing writings of the girls. Each girl assumed a separate identity, Meg was Samuel Pickwick, Jo was Augustus Snodgrass, Beth was Tracy Tupman, and Amy was Nathaniel Winkle. CHAPTER 11: EXPERIMENTS The girls decide to take a break from their work and try to experiment with laziness. The house falls into disrepair and the girls find being lazy, boring. Pip, the pet canary is discovered dead by Beth. All gather for the burial. Jo cooks a terrible dinner but everyone tries to be polite.

CHAPTER 13: CASTLES IN THE AIR The girls head off to the forest dressed in large hats to play Pilgrims Progress. Laurie seems them and follows. The girls explain to Laurie about Delectable Mountain and the Celestial City. Each of the children talk about what their dream castle would look like and how their dream lives would be. Laurie and Meg get into a small argument because Laurie insists that he does not need to go to college as his grandfather insists. Meg believes that he should obey his grandfather. The two resolve their quarrel and then all the girls decide that Laurie can be a member of the Busy Bee Society. CHAPTER 14: SECRETS Jo goes into town to see the dentist and runs into Laurie. The two of them decide to tell secrets. Jo tells Laurie that she has given two of her stories to the newspaper and is waiting to hear whether or not they will be printed. Laurie tells Jo that her sister Meg has given one of her gloves to his tutor, Mr. Brooke. Jo is angry that her sister would do such a thing and she becomes very upset at the thought of Meg having a boyfriend.

Jo fears that Meg will be taken away from the family and is in a mood for several days. CHAPTER 15: A TELEGRAM The March family receives a telegram that Mr. March is seriously ill. Mrs. March decides to leave at once to be by his side. Old man Laurence wishes to offer himself as Mrs. March's escort but because of his advanced age he offers Laurie's tutor, Mr. Brooke instead. Jo goes and has her hair cut off and sold so that she can provide the family with $25.00. CHAPTER 17: LITTLE FAITHFUL Beth goes to visit the poor Hummel family to bring them food and supplies. Upon her visit she discovers that the baby is very ill and takes care of it while the older sister rests. While watching the child, it dies. The doctor is called and announces that the baby died of scarlet fever. He tells Beth to go home at once and take medication. Beth returns and is confined to bed, Amy is sent to Aunt March's house because of the fear of her contracting the fever. Amy does not wish to go but Laurie promises to visit her everyday. Meg and Jo begin caring for Beth.

CHAPTER 19: AMY'S WILL Amy suffers at Aunt March's house but finds a friend in Esther, the maid. Esther tells Amy of the things she will receive when Aunt March dies. Amy decides to make a will of her own so that she can leave something to each of her sisters. CHAPTER 20: CONFIDENTIAL Mrs. March returns home and visits the banished Amy who is overjoyed at seeing her mother. Jo and Marmee have a private talk about Meg and Mr. Brooke. Marmee tells Jo that while with him in Washington DC., Mr. Brooke told her that he means to get a job and then ask Meg to marry him. Jo is very upset at the prospect of loosing her sister, but Marmee tries to comfort her. CHAPTER 21: LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE Laurie plays an evil prank on Meg by sending her a supposed "love letter" from Mr. Brooke. Laurie apologizes to Meg and her sisters, they forgive him. Laurie is also punished by his grandfather and decides to run off to Washington, DC. He asks Jo to go with him but she refuses. Jo gets Mr.

Laurence to apologize for punishing Laurie and all is well. CHAPTER 24: GOSSIP Here we meet the March family three years later. Mrs. March as aged a bit, Mr. March has come home to teach, and the entire family is awaiting Meg's wedding to Mr. Brooke. Beth, although no longer sick, does not retain her energy as she used to. Jo is pursuing her writing career, Amy has become quite the young lady, and Laurie is off at college. Meg and Mr. Brooke have just bought a house and are trying to furnish it. Laurie tells Jo that she will be the next to marry, Jo says she will never marry. CHAPTER 25: THE FIRST WEDDING The wedding guests arrive and Meg has her simple wedding. Not needing all the fancy trimmings but preferring a small quiet wedding, Mr. March acts as minister and the family gathers round to see young Meg married. All have a wonderful time, even Aunt March. CHAPTER 26: ARTISTIC ATTEMPTS Amy spends much time trying out different mediums for her art. As a member of an art class she wishes to have her class over to the house for lunch.

Realizing that the family cannot support a lunch for 14 girls, Amy agrees to make arrangements and pay for the affair herself. The lunch is rained out the first day and on the second, only one friend is present. Although Amy's day is a disaster, her family consoles her. CHAPTER 27: LITERARY LESSONS Jo attends a lecture where she gets the idea of writing stories for publication. She sends one of her manuscripts to a publisher and receives $100.00. She decides to send Beth and Marmee to the beach. Her other stories provide for the family as well, "The Duke's Daughter paid the butchers bill, A Phantom Hand put down a new carpet, and the Curse of the Coventrys proved the blessing of the Marches in the way of groceries and gowns". With this new found talent, Jo decides to wear her "scribbling suit", a black woolen pinafore and matching cap with a red bow, and write a book of some sort for money. CHAPTER 28: DOMESTIC EXPERIENCES Meg learns that married life is not as peaceful and easy as she might have imagined.

She tries desperately to keep a good house and make jelly but these matters seem to get away from her from time to time. One night John brings home an unexpected dinner guest and Meg spends the evening sobbing. She spends too much money on a silk dress and a patient husband forgives her but she only insults him by declaring that she does not wish to be poor anymore. But, the couple works through their problems and 2 beautiful twins are born at the end of the chapter. John Laurence and Margaret "Daisy" are introduced into the world. CHAPTER 29: CALLS Amy and Jo make the social scene and visit several families. The reader gets a first hand glance at the differences in Jo and Amy's personalities. Amy, who has been looking forward to this outing has to convince her sister Jo to come with her. Eventually, an unhappy Jo agrees. The two visit from house to house where Amy is quick to guard her manners and behaves like a perfect lady. On the other hand, Jo enjoys telling stories and chatting with the boys more than talks about gossip with the ladies. CHAPTER 30: CONSEQUENCES Mrs. Chester decides to throw a fair to show off the girls artistic ability.

May Chester shares with her mother her jealousy of Amy and her talent. Therefore, Mrs. Chester sees to it that Amy's table is moved away to a farther corner so that her girls can enjoy the spotlight. Amy tries to make the best of it and Jo convinces Laurie to bring his friends to buy all of Amy's floral arrangements. Even Jo attends and tries her best to fit in and make Amy happy. Aunt Carrol decides to take Amy to Europe instead of Jo and Jo is disappointed but Beth is happy that her favorite sister will remain home. CHAPTER 31: OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT Amy writes several letters to her family and sisters. She is enjoying herself in Europe and traveling to many places. While abroad she runs into Fred Vaughn, whom she met the summer of Camp Laurence. In a private letter to Marmee, Amy says that if Fred should offer his love, she would not hesitate to take it so that the family could have a good marriage. She says that she does not love him, but would in time. In addition, she is quite impressed by his monetary worth since Meg made such a "poor" marriage, Amy does not wish to do the same.

CHAPTER 32: TENDER TROUBLES Beth seems upset and Marmee wonders why, so she asks Jo to see if she can use her influence to find out. Although Beth does not tell Jo exactly what is vexing her, Jo believes that Beth has fallen in love with Laurie. Fearing that Laurie may like her instead, Jo asks her mother if she may move to New York for the winter. She thinks that the time away would be good for her writing and allow Laurie ample time to forget her. Marmee agrees and Jo tells Laurie that she will be leaving. He tells her that he shall not forget her so easily. CHAPTER 34: A FRIEND Jo is enjoying her life in New York as a writer. She decides to take a story she has written to the Weekly Volcano. She explains to Mr. Dashwood that her "friend" has written a story and hopes that it will be suitable for publishing. He tells her that her will look at it and get back to her. Jo hears from him later and sees that her story has been completely changed but they are offering $25.00 for it so she accepts. She continues to write sensational stories for the paper but refuses to have any name attached to them.

Jo and Professor Bhaer continue their friendly relationship. He is still teaching her German and one night comes to teach her wearing a paper hat which the children made for him but that he forgot to remove. Jo lets him discover the hat himself and when he does, they begin a discussion of the sensational story in the paper. Jo is thankful that it was not one of her stories and she decides to never write those kinds of stories again. Jo returns home for the summer. CHAPTER 35: HEARTACHE Jo returns and hopes that Laurie has gotten over her. She discovers in a walk through the woods that he has not and she feels that she has to tell him that she does not love him and will never marry him. Laurie is crushed and returns home to his grandfather. Wishing to have taken Jo on a trip to Europe, Laurie now finds comfort in the fact that his grandfather will accompany him. Laurie tries to recover from a broken heart. CHAPTER 36: BETH'S SECRET Jo takes Beth to the beach in the hopes that it will lift her spirits. Beth tells Jo "her secret", namely, that Beth is very sick and fragile and believes that she will die soon.

Beth explains that she believes she was never meant to live long and that at 19 she is ready and willing to go. Beth hopes that Jo will tell their parents of Beth's secret so that they can prepare. Upon arriving home, Jo realizes that she will not have to tell her parents because it is clear from looking at Beth that her time is nearing. CHAPTER 37: NEW IMPRESSIONS Laurie catches up with Amy in Nice on Christmas Day. The two spend time getting to know each other all over again. Laurie has grown into quite a young man and Amy has become a refined young lady. The two attend a Christmas part together and Laurie fills up Amy's book with his name for dances all night. The two are discovering new impressions in one another. CHAPTER 38: ON THE SHELF Meg and John fall out of sorts as Meg spends more and more time with the children and less with John. He begins to spend a great deal of time at the neighbors because he feels himself to be a burden. At first, Meg enjoys his time away from the house because it allows her the opportunity to care for the children more. Eventually however, she feels neglected and speaks with Marmee about her situation.

Marmee tells Meg that she needs to pay more attention to John and allow him to help in the raising of the children. Meg agrees and lets John help to discipline Demi who has gotten out of control. Meg is soon satisfied that John is capable of taking care of the children as well and the marriage returns to its even keel. CHAPTER 39: LAZY LAURENCE Laurie and Amy spend more time together in France. On day at a park Amy has had enough of Laurie's "lazy" behavior and severely reprimands him for it. She tells him that he needs to go back to his grandfather and get on with his life. Amy suspects that Jo is the cause of his troubles as she sees him playing with a ring which Jo had given him long ago. Realizing that Laurie suffers from heartache, Amy tries to be more understanding but insists that Laurie needs to be less lazy. By the end of the chapter Laurie sends word that he is leaving for his grandfather and Amy is pleased. CHAPTER 40: THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW A special room is prepared for Beth so that she may spend her last days surrounded by beautiful things and wonderful people. She spends her days making small gifts for the children.

Jo keeps a constant watch over her sister and writes a special poem about her entitled, "Beth". One night as Jo drifts off to sleep, Beth reads the poem and is touched by her sisters caring words. She realizes that her short life has made a real difference in people's lives and now Beth is ready to leave. Beth dies in her mother's arms. CHAPTER 41: LEARNING TO FORGET In an effort to cure his broken heart, Laurie tries to write music like Mozart but finds this task tedious and gives it up. Amy receives word from home that Beth has passed. She wishes to return home but her family urges her to stay, saying that she should spend her time mourning in Europe. Amy calls for Laurie and he packs his things and leaves from Germany to be at Amy's side. The two grow very fond of one another and love blossoms between them. While rowing in a river boat the two share their love for one another. CHAPTER 42: ALL ALONE Jo has a hard time dealing with Beth's death. She is deeply saddened and feels very much alone. Marmee and her father try to comfort her but Jo is still heartbroken. The family hears the news of Amy and Laurie's engagement.

Marmee is worried that Jo will be upset at the news, but Jo confesses that she is not at all angry or upset. Marmee suggests that Jo write to help ease her pain and so Jo does. One evening she retires and looks through her old chest, she begins to reminisce about her winter stay with Mrs. Kirke's and her friendship with Professor Bhaer. Jo begins to realize how much she misses him. CHAPTER 43: SURPRISES Jo is saddened at the prospect of being an old maid, yet her sadness turns to joy when Laurie and Amy return from Europe and announce that the have married. The family is overjoyed, including Jo who is now more than happy to welcome Laurie as a true brother to the family. Yet this is not the only surprise of the evening for Jo soon discovers Professor Bhaer at the front door and invites him in to enjoy the festivities. He tells Jo that he will be in town for a few days on business. CHAPTER 44: MY LORD AND LADY Laurie and Amy discuss their plans for the future. Laurie says that he means to get a good job and stop being so lazy.

The two agree that they wish to use their wealth to help others who are less fortunate than themselves. CHAPTER 45: DAISY AND DEMI In this chapter the reader learns more about Meg and John's young twins. Daisy is the picture of beauty and bounces about playing house and confessing her love for everyone. Demi is likewise active and pursues the alphabet with his grandfather. He is very inquisitive and protects his sister from any harm. Both children praise and love their Aunt Jo and are jealous when their playtimes with her are cut short because of visits from Professor Bhaer. CHAPTER 46: UNDER THE UMBRELLA Jo goes on long walks in the hope of running into Professor Bhaer, she has not seen him for several days and wonders where he has gone. She runs into him one rainy day in town and learns that his business is finished and that he will be leaving soon. The Professor has been offered a job in the west teaching and he means to take it and earn some money for himself and Franz and Emil. Jo is crushed by this news and Professor Bhaer seems to take notice.

He spends the rest of the day shopping with Jo and eventually the two disclose their true feelings for one another. They agree to be married and Jo feels that she has finally found happiness in her life. CHAPTER 47: HARVEST TIME Aunt March dies suddenly and leaves Plumfield, her home, to Jo. Overjoyed by the generosity of the old woman, Jo searches for a way to make the home useful. Finally, she decides that she would like to open a boys home with her and the Professor as teachers. The home would provide a place for both rich and poor boys so that each could learn and grow up in a giving environment. Eventually Jo and the Professor have two little boys of their own, Rob and Teddy. Amy has a sickly young daughter, Beth, who she is constantly worrying over. At the annual apple-picking at Plumfield, the family celebrates the sixtieth birthday of Mrs. March The boys all climb trees and sing to her which makes her very happy. The family gives thanks for having one another and the novel closes. Jo March in Little Women (Click the character infographic to download.) When we first meet Jo March, she's a tomboyish, hot-tempered, geeky fifteen-year-old girl.

She loves activity and can't bear to be left on the sidelines; it drives her crazy that she can't go and fight in the Civil War alongside her father, who has volunteered as a chaplain. Instead, Jo has to stay at home and try to reconcile herself to a nineteenth-century woman's place in the domestic sphere, which is extremely difficult for her. You can hear the trouble in her name – she's called Josephine, a feminine name, but she goes by the more masculine-sounding Jo. She's clumsy, blunt, opinionated, and jolly. Her behavior is often most unladylike – she swears (mildly), burns her dress while warming herself at the fire, spills things on her only gloves, and barely tolerates her cranky old Aunt March. She's so boyish that Mr. March has referred to her as his "son JO" in the past, and her best friend Laurie sometimes calls her "my dear fellow." Jo also loves literature, both reading and writing it. She composes plays for her sisters to perform and writes stories that she eventually gets published.

She imitates Dickens and Shakespeare and Scott, and whenever she's not doing chores she curls up in her room, in a corner of the attic, or outside, completely absorbed in a good book. Jo hopes to do something great when she grows up, although she's not sure what that might be – perhaps writing a great novel. Whatever it is, it's not going to involve getting married; Jo hates the idea of romance, because marriage might break up her family and separate her from the sisters she adores. As you might have guessed, Jo is being set up for a Meaningful Journey of Self-Discovery and Surprises (TM). By the end of the novel, her dreams and dislikes are going to be turned topsy-turvy; her desire to make her way in the world and her distaste for staying at home will be altered forever. She may not find romance in the places that readers expect, but she will find it. She'll also realize that romantic love has its place, even though it changes the relationships you already have. As Jo discovers her feminine side, she also figures out how to balance her ambitious nature with the constraints placed on nineteenth-century women.

The question is: how much do these constraints reflect the contemporary situation of twenty-first-century women readers? Louisa Between the Lines Jo begins as a semi-autobiographical stand-in for the author, Louisa May Alcott. Like Jo, Alcott was one of four sisters, with a philosophically-minded father, strong religious principles, and a penchant for writing. Alcott, however, never married, although she adopted her deceased sister's child and thus experienced something like motherhood. The first half of Little Women (Chapters 1-23) is pretty much a fictional version of Louisa May Alcott's own life with her sisters, including the same kinds of domestic trials and triumphs that they experienced every day. However, after readers clamored for Jo to marry her best friend, Laurie, Alcott realized that she couldn't get away with creating a beloved heroine and leaving her a spinster. Not in the nineteenth century, anyway. So Alcott invented a romance for Jo in the second half of the novel – just not the one that anyone expected! Another important similarity between Alcott and Jo is the kind of stories they write.

Louisa May Alcott herself wrote both realistic, moralized fiction, like Little Women and its sequels, and sensational thrillers. Of course, she published those under a pseudonym, but you can read some of her most exciting stuff in the anthology Alternative Alcott , which we highly recommend. Like Alcott, Jo begins her publishing career by writing thrilling stories with Gothic inspiration and no morals whatsoever – the written version of horror films and historical thrillers. And also like Alcott, Jo is most successful as a writer when she produces sentimental works about everyday domestic life. We guess it's just one more piece of evidence in favor of that constant advice to young writers to "write what you know." As you read the novel, see if you can feel the difference between the places where Louisa is writing based on her own experience and the places where she's making things up. Sisters Doing It for Themselves The four March sisters are extremely close, but their relationships with one another are varied and complex. Jo is closest to her sister Beth, who is two years younger than her. With Jo and Beth, it's a case of opposites attracting; Jo is brash, overbearing, and ambitious, while Beth is a sweet, shy homebody.

Jo describes Beth as her "conscience" at one point, and Beth does seem to rein in her wild sister sometimes. Beth's legacy to Jo is her role as a helpmeet and comfort for her parents and for the whole family in times of trouble. Jo seems to inherit Beth's role as the "angel in the house," and by watching and understanding Beth's role, Jo becomes more comfortable with her own femininity and with performing in the domestic sphere. Jo's relationships with her other two sisters, Meg and Amy, are equally loving, but involve more conflict. As the two oldest sisters, Meg and Jo share a lot of experiences. They become young women and enter into society together. (By "society," we mostly mean "house parties hosted by their rich friends.") Because of their poverty, they're also called upon early in life to begin taking over some extra responsibilities – looking after their two younger sisters, keeping the household running, and even taking on outside jobs to help support their struggling family. These shared experiences create a special bond between Meg and Jo; in fact, when it seems like Meg might get married, Jo says that she wishes she could marry Meg herself to keep the family together.

Yet Jo and Meg have very different value systems – Meg values pretty things and high society and has a romantic nature, and Jo scorns almost everything Meg thinks is important. Jo and Amy are the most explosive pairing of the March sisters. Jo has very little patience with Amy's attempts to be snobbish and proper, and when Amy is really little Jo treats her a bit condescendingly. The first time we see them together, on Christmas Eve, they're only too ready to say that they hate each other. Amy and Jo both have fiery tempers, and there are a few times that we're worried they might hold grudges for life – such as the time that Amy burns Jo's only copy of a book manuscript. But their faith and their love for their family continually hold them together, despite all the things that might pull them apart. Working Girl For most of the novel, Jo has a job – something a bit unusual for a young lady with an upper-class background in nineteenth-century America. Even when we first meet Jo, aged fifteen, she works as a companion for her Aunt March.

Being a "companion" to a rich old lady, or even a rich young lady, was a common form of employment for nineteenth-century girls who came from good families but didn't have much money of their own. Like most companions, Jo spends time with her employer, reads to her, does little tasks for her like winding her yarn, and generally hangs around. This might not sound too hard, but Jo's Aunt March is a tyrannical, selfish old woman whose favorite phrase is "I told you so." She constantly rebukes Jo for her unladylike behavior, and Jo bristles under her watchful eye. Imagine if you, aged fifteen, had to spend each day with a crotchety relative instead of going to school. You thought P.E. was bad? Try Polly, Aunt March's spoiled parrot. But even though it's not a bed of roses, Jo's job as Aunt March's companion helps her contribute a little money to her struggling family. Jo eventually loses her job as Aunt March's companion to Amy, but goes on to work as a governess to the children of a family friend, Mrs. Kirke, at a boarding house in New York.

In this case, Jo's employment continues to help her take care of her family, especially her ailing sister Beth. But it also gives her a chance to see the world beyond the New England town where she grew up. While working this job, Jo lands another – as a contributor of sensational stories to a newspaper (well, it's more like a tabloid) called The Weekly Volcano. But this is the job that finally teaches her that some things aren't for sale – including her honesty and integrity. Jo feels herself becoming desensitized and corrupted by the gratuitous material in her stories, and she gives up the position. When Jo returns home from New York, it seems like she might reconcile herself to staying at home, caring for her parents, and being the "angel in the house" that nineteenth-century culture suggested women should be. But she's got one more trick up her sleeve – her plan to open up a boarding school for boys. Jo's final career choice brings together her love of boys and her homemaking skills with her interest in education and literature. It's the perfect compromise between being a mother and being an educator.

It's also Louisa May Alcott trying to have her cake and eat it too – Jo is a stay-at-home mom, but also an entrepreneur. It's a beautiful dream, but maybe not realistic for everyone. Don't Splice that YouTube Fan Vid Yet Probably the most controversial thing about Jo is the love triangle she ends up in. Well, to be exact, there are two love triangles. (At this point, if you haven't finished reading the novel, you should go back and do that because we're about to drop some mad spoilers.) First, of course, there's the Amy-Laurie-Jo triangle. For most of the novel, you probably thought Jo was going to end up with Laurie. After all, Laurie and Jo are best buds. Whenever Jo is in trouble, she runs to Laurie, and sometimes she even buries herself in his arms. They talk about running away together, and Jo is comforted when Laurie says he'll always be there for her. Plus, Jo's tomboyishness seems to dovetail perfectly with Laurie's effeminacy, right? It's a complete gender-swap! He even has a girlish name, while she has a boyish one.

If you thought Laurie + Jo was a match made in heaven, well, at one point Laurie would have agreed with you. Heck, there are plenty of people who read the novel today who would also agree with you. But Alcott refuses to let Jo and Laurie get together. Now, don't go all crazy on us, but we actually hear what she's saying on this one. Laurie and Jo actually aren't a good pairing, because they're both too hot-tempered. Plus, we don't think Jo could be happy as the wife of a rich man; she's not fashionable enough to be a queen of high society. We can just see them trying to hold their first house party – Jo would probably break all the best china, spill something on the most important guest, and swear in front of the next most important guest in the first five minutes. We also like the fact that Jo turns Laurie down because she's true to herself. Sure, he's rich, and good-looking, and a good person, and in love with her, but she just doesn't feel the same about him. She likes him a lot, but she's not attracted to him. And, well, love isn't something you can force.

Neither is, ahem, attraction. And sometimes "no" is nicer than "maybe." We think Jo puts it best: "I can't say 'yes' truly, so I won't say it at all." So Laurie heads off and ends up with...Jo's sister Amy. Yeah, that one's a little weird. We'll save our discussion of it for Laurie's "Character Analysis," so you can skip over and read that if you want. And then begins the next triangle: Laurie-Jo-Mr. Bhaer. Again, don't freak out when we say this, but Mr. Bhaer is basically a completely ridiculous love interest for Jo. If you don't believe us, you can go and read Louisa May Alcott's journals, where she referred to Mr. Bhaer as " a funny match" for Jo. Mr. Bhaer is about fourteen years older than Jo (he's around 40 when she's 26), he's definitely not handsome, he has terrible table manners, his clothes are always ragged, and he's got a silly accent. It's not that we don't like German accents (we do!), but we think that Alcott makes Mr.

Bhaer's accent sound extra-silly on purpose, to emphasize his buffoonishness. (Feel free to disagree with us – see Mr. Bhaer's "Character Analysis" for more!) In the end, of course, Jo's decision to marry Mr. Bhaer instead of Laurie says more about her than it does about him, or even about Louisa May Alcott snickering as she messes around with her readers. Jo isn't the kind of person who marries for money or for appearances – she marries because she has a deep love and respect for someone, and because she thinks they'll be excellent partners in life. The first hint comes when Mr. Bhaer reminds Jo of her father during a discussion of theology. When Mr. Bhaer defends traditional religious values in the face of modern philosophy, Jo starts to lose her heart. No, it's not especially romantic, but that's the kind of girl she is.

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott: The Text Oxford Text Archive, Oxford University Computing Services, 13 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6NN; archive@ox.ac.uk 1994 Freely available for non-commercial use provided that this header is included in its entirety with any copy distributed. 16 Aug 1993 First edition published in 1869. Originally downloaded from the InterNet Wiretap anonymous ftp server (wiretap.spies.com) in July 1993. Initial SGML tagging carried out by Jeffrey Triggs at Bellcore.Final corrections and parsing carried out at the Oxford Text Archive. Louisa May Alcott: 1832-1888 Louisa May Alcott's novel brings to life vividly the life of New England during the nineteenth century. A life that was tranquil, secure, and productive. It is little wonder, for she drew on her own and on her family's experiences for her work. As one of four daughters growing up in Boston. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to nearby Concord. There she spent the happiest years of her younger life, even though she experienced the constant threat of poverty.

She counted as friends the children of Hawthorne and Emerson. The Alcott was only a modest cottage, but the girls made use of a neighboring barn to perform plays written by Louisa May. She was educated at home, and became a school teacher in Boston. She saw her first story printed in a Boston newspaper at the age of twenty. Her first full-length book appeared two years later. Interrupting her career as a writer, she served as a nurse in a Washington hospital during the Civil War. The thing that pleased her most about her writing, as she became more and more well known, was the fact that sales of her books helped to make life more comfortable and less of a daily struggle for her parents in their later years. LITTLE WOMEN was published in 1869, and has gone on to become one of America's classics. The current electronic version of Little Women available by chapter. PART ONE: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Text, Ebook Louisa May Alcott's Little Women; or, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (1868) follows the lives, loves and tribulations of four sisters growing up during the American Civil War. Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill.

The story is based the childhood experiences Alcott shared with her real life sisters, Anna, May and Elizabeth. Alcott intricately explores the rich nuances of family and family relationships with each character. Avid Alcott readers often identify in themselves one of the four sisters at various phases in their own lives. It's a perfect story for Christmas, or any time of year. You might also enjoy our selection of Christmas Stories . SparkNotes: Little Women: Plot Overview Plot Overview Context Character List Alcott prefaces Little Women with an excerpt from John Bunyan’s seventeenth-century work The Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegorical novel about leading a Christian life. Alcott’s story begins with the four March girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—sitting in their living room, lamenting their poverty. The girls decide that they will each buy themselves a present in order to brighten their Christmas. Soon, however, they change their minds and decide that instead of buying presents for themselves, they will buy presents for their mother, Marmee. Marmee comes home with a letter from Mr. March, the girls’ father, who is serving as a Union chaplain in the Civil War.

The letter inspires the girls to bear their burdens more cheerfully and not to complain about their poverty. On Christmas morning, the girls wake up to find books, probably copies of The Pilgrim’s Progress, under their pillows. Later that day, Marmee encourages them to give away their breakfast to a poor family, the Hummels. Their elderly neighbor, Mr. Laurence, whom the girls have never met, rewards their charitable activities by sending over a feast. Soon, Meg and Jo are invited to attend a New Year’s Party at the home of Meg’s wealthy friend, Sally Gardiner. At the party, Jo retreats to an alcove, and there meets Laurie, the boy who lives with Mr. Laurence. While dancing, Meg sprains her ankle. Laurie escorts the sisters home. The Marches regret having to return to their daily routine after the holiday festivities. Jo visits Laurie when he is sick, and meets his grandfather, Mr. Laurence. She inadvertently insults a painting of Mr. Laurence in front of the man himself. Luckily, Laurie’s grandfather admires Jo’s spunk, and they become friends. Soon, Mr. Laurence meets all the sisters, and Beth becomes his special favorite. Mr.

Laurence gives her his deceased granddaughter’s piano. The girls have various adventures. Amy is caught trading limes at school, and the teacher hits her as punishment. As a result, Mrs. March withdraws her daughter from school. Jo refuses to let Amy go with her to the theater. In retaliation, Amy burns Jo’s manuscript, and Jo, in her anger, nearly lets Amy drown while ice-s-kating. Pretty Meg attends her friend Annie Moffat’s party and, after allowing the other girls to dress her up in high style, learns that appearances are not everything. While at the party, she hears that people think she intends to marry Laurie for his money. That year, the Marches form the Pickwick Club, in which they write a family newspaper. In the spring, Jo smuggles Laurie into one of the club meetings, and he becomes a member, presenting his new circle with a postbox. At the beginning of June, the Marches decide to neglect their housework. At the end of a lazy week, Marmee takes a day off too. The girls spoil a dinner, but everyone ends up laughing over it. One day, Laurie has English friends over, and the Marches go on a picnic with them.

Later, Jo gets a story published for the first time. One dark day, the family receives a telegram saying that Mr. March is sick in the hospital in Washington, D.C. Marmee goes to tend to him, and Jo sells her hair to help finance the trip. Chaos ensues in Marmee’s wake, for the girls neglect their chores again. Only Beth goes to visit the Hummels, and after one of her visits, she contracts scarlet fever from the Hummel baby. Beth teeters on the brink of death until Marmee returns. Meanwhile, Amy spends time at Aunt March’s house in order to escape the disease. Beth recovers, though not completely, and Mr. Brooke, Laurie’s tutor, falls in love with Meg, much to Jo’s dismay. Mr. Brooke and Meg are engaged by the end of Part One. Three years pass before Part Two begins. Mr. March is home from the war, and Laurie is nearly done with school. Soon, Meg marries and moves into a new home with Mr. Brooke. One day, Amy decides to have a lunch for her art school classmates, but poor weather ruins the festivities.

Jo gets a novel published, but she must cut it down in order to please her publishers. Meanwhile, Meg struggles with the duties of keeping house, and she soon gives birth to twins, Demi and Daisy. Amy gets to go to Paris instead of Jo, who counted on the trip, because their Aunt Carroll prefers Amy’s ladylike behavior in a companion. Jo begins to think that Beth loves Laurie. In order to escape Laurie’s affections for her, Jo moves to New York so as to give Beth a chance to win his affections. There Jo meets Professor Bhaer, a poor German language instructor. Professor Bhaer discourages Jo from writing sensationalist stories, and she takes his advice and finds a simpler writing style. When Jo returns home, Laurie proposes to her, but she turns him down. Beth soon dies. Amy and Laurie reunite in France, and they fall in love. They marry and return home. Jo begins to hope that Professor Bhaer will come for her. He does, and they marry a year later. Amy and Laurie have a daughter named Beth, who is sickly. Jo inherits Plumfield, Aunt March’s house, and decides to turn it into a boarding school for boys.

The novel ends with the family happily gathered together, each sister thankful for her blessings and for each other. Little Women Little Women Please visit our sister sites: Little Women after the novel by Louisa May Alcott About Little Women Adamo's first opera, Little Women was an immediate success, with dozens of productions in its first few years. The story of Alcott's novel is told in the novel through a series of flashbacks. Cast of Characters Laurie (Theodore Lawrence), lyric tenor John Brooke, lyric baritone Friedrich Bhaer, bass-baritone (or mezzo-soprano) Alma March, mezzo-soprano Act I Prologue The opera begins in the Marsh family attic in the 1870s. The 21-year-old Jo is alone, writing, when Laurie, a young man now married to Jo's sister Amy, arrives. They make awkward conversation, as they reflect on their own past relationship. When Laurie tells Jo that he is glad that things are going back to the way they used to be, Jo becomes upset, and begins the flashbacks that make up the rest of the opera. ("Couldn't I unbake the breads").

Scene 1 Three years earlier, in the same attic, the four Marsh sisters and Laurie are holding a meeting of the Barristers' Club, with much mock ceremony. Jo is protective of Beth, who has been ill. After a game, they ask each other questions in a game of "Truth or Fabrication". After the others have left, Laurie. stays behind to talk to Jo, telling her that the glove sister Meg says she has lost has actually been given to Laurie's tutor, Brooke. Jo is annoyed at the thought of marriage breaking up their family; after Laurie leaves, it distracts her from the story she is writing. ("Perfect as we are.") Scene 2 A few weeks later, Jo and Laurie are out walking when they see Meg and Brooke together; Brooke is telling Meg a story hinting at his love ("There was a knight, once"), which Jo interrupts. Before they leave, however, Brooke aksk permission to speak with Meg's father. Back at home, Beth sings a hymn she has composed as Jo teases Meg, who says that she will refuse Brooke if he proposes, since her father thinks she is too young to marry.

But when he appears, she hesitates, but with Jo prompting her from behind the curtains, she refuses him. The girls' wealthy Aunt Cecilia arrives, and as Brooke talks to Meg's parents, Cecilia warns Meg not to throw herself away on a poor man and hints that Brooke is only interested in Meg because of Cecilia's money. When Meg responds that she will only marry for love, Cecilia storms off, telling Meg she will be written out of her will. Meg accepts Brooke, then tries in vain to get Jo to accept her decision ("Things change, Jo"). Scene 3 On Meg and Brooke's wedding morning, the March parents repeat their own wedding vows, which Meg has asked to use, for the family. Meanwhile, Laurie takes Jo aside, and though she tries to forestall him, he proposes. Jo refuses, telling him that they could never be happy together. Laurie runs off, crushed. Amy, who has feelings for Laurie herself, has overheard; she upbraids Jo for her cruelty to Laurie. As they argue, Beth, who has been ill, collapses and the entire family rushes to help her as the act ends.

Act II Scene 1 A year later, Jo has come to New York City, to stay in the hopes that Laurie will forget her and things will go back to the way they were. She sells a story to a magazine; through the letters she writes and receives, we learn that Laurie is now a sophomore at Oxford; that Brooke and Meg are the parents of twins; that Amy is on a tour of England, at Cecilia's expense; and that Beth is not improving. Friedrich Bhaer, another resident of Jo's boarding house, arrives to take her to the opera, but Jo tells her parents not to worry, as he is thirty-nine. Scene 2 At the boarding house that night, Jo and Bhaer discuss the opera, art, and love; at the same time, in England, Amy and Laurie talk about Jo, and Beth tries to compose a finale for a chorale. To convince Jo that there is more to art than the sensation stories she has been writing, Bhaer sings a setting of Goethe, first in German, then in English ("Kennst du das Land"/"Do You Know the Land").

They are interrupted by a telegram from Meg's mother, telling Jo that Beth is worse and asking Jo to come at once. Scene 3 Beth is asleep in her bedroom, ill with scarlet fever, but she wakes up when Jo arrives. Jo is frantic, but Beth is calm and resigned, and tries to teach her sister to be the same ("Have peace, Jo"). Beth asks if she can sleep for a minute, and as the chorus sings her chorale, she dies peacefully. Jo turns to Meg for comfort, but Brooke is comforting her; Jo exclaims, "I've lost you all." Scene 4 The following spring, Jo and Cecilia discuss Amy's latest letter; she and Laurie are finally in love. Jo also admits that Bhaer has not written to her. Cecilia praises Jo's strength and tells Jo that she has left her fortune to her, since only she, with her solitary, unchanging ways, will appreciate them, isolated as she is from fickle lovers or friends (duet: "You, alone"). Jo, faced with this vision of her future, finally realizes that change is a necessary part of life.

Scene 5 Back in the attic, as in the Prologue, Jo wonders, with all of this change, what endures? Laurie arrives, and the scene from the Prologue is repeated, but this time, Jo tells Laurie that things can never be as they were, but that they can remain friends despite the changes. Meg remembers her sisters together, and says her goodbyes to those days (quartet: "Let me look at you"). As the memory of her childhood fades, Bhaer arrives. He asks her if now is a good moment, and she replies, "Now is all there is." Performance History

Question: 'Meg; Jo; Beth and Amy' is the sub-title to which Louisa May Scott novel?
Answer: Little Women